Pretoria: The Deputy Ministers of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Prince Zolile Burns-Ncamashe and Dr Namane Dickson Masemola, have successfully convened the inaugural Eastern Seaboard Development (ESD) Traditional Leaders’ Summit in the Eastern Seaboard region.
According to South African Government News Agency, the ESD encompasses the coastal regions of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. The Deputy Ministers were joined by the House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders (NHTKL) Chairperson Kgosi Thabo Seatlholo and the Eastern Cape CoGTA MEC Zolile Williams. The summit, held from 23 to 24 March 2025, also gathered traditional leaders, municipal representatives, and key stakeholders from the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
The purpose of the summit was to enhance the participation of traditional leadership in the planning and implementation of the ESD programme. It is part of ongoing engagements under the ESD initiative, which aims to leverage the region’s economic potential through strategic infrastructure development, improved governance, and active stakeholder participation, including that of traditional leaders, in local economic growth.
Over the course of two days, the summit offered a platform to review the engagement of traditional leaders in the ESD planning phase and address key concerns raised in earlier consultations. It aimed to define the role of traditional leadership in ESD project implementation, including their participation in planning and governance structures. Discussions also covered land acquisition, land use rights, and partnerships with investors to ensure secure tenure and meaningful engagement.
The summit also aimed to align the ESD with the broader Invest Rural Masterplan and rural development initiatives while addressing traditional leadership concerns related to the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA). Empowerment initiatives were identified to enhance the capacity of traditional leaders in economic development matters.
Since its inception, the ESD initiative has progressed significantly in its planning phase. The Eastern Seaboard was officially declared a region under the SPLUMA in June 2022, facilitating the development of a Regional Spatial Development Framework (RSDF). This framework, which has undergone extensive public consultation, is intended to offer a clear roadmap for government and private sector investment in the region.
As the ESD initiative enters its implementation phase, there will be a focus on further consultations, consolidating projects, mobilizing resources, and building the necessary capacity to ensure successful execution.